An attack on foreign oil workers in Saudi Arabia, which left 22 people dead, sent benchmark oil prices climbing $2.42 to a record $42.30 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The jump in turn raised stock investors’ worries about the impact of rising energy prices on inflation and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.

However, a higher-than-expected rise in construction spending and strong growth in the manufacturing sector showed that the potential for higher rates would not harm two of the major engines of the economy — a major concern of investors. Those bullish figures kept stocks from plunging and let buyers re-enter the market late in the session. Light volume after the holiday weekend helped keep volatility low as well.

"It’s all about oil right now because of the terror attack in Saudi Arabia," said Todd Leone, managing director of equity trading at SG Cowen Securities. "Actually, though, the market’s hung in there pretty well. I think that the attack happened there instead of here helped ease some fears."

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 14.20, or 0.1 percent, at 10,202.65.

Broader stock indicators were narrowly higher. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index was up 0.56, or nearly flat, at 1,121.24, and the Nasdaq composite index gained 4.03, or 0.2 percent, to 1,990.77.

Stocks were coming off solid gains last week, the first major up week on Wall Street in more than a month. However, many investors held off making large bets until Friday’s monthly payroll report — a major gauge of the economy’s strength — was released.

Today’s economic indicators revealed a growing economy. Construction spending rose 1.3 percent in April, the best month ever, while the Institute of Supply Management’s index of manufacturing activity rose to 62.8 in May, up from 62.4 in April. Both figures were better than economists expected but did little to move stocks until investors had second thoughts late in the session.

Analysts were not impressed by the market’s behavior, however.

"We don’t really have a huge direction here," said Bill Groenveld, head trader for vFinance Investments. "The economic numbers were good, but that did nothing. Maybe it’ll pick up for the employment numbers on Friday."

Viacom Inc. fell 46 cents to $36.81 after president and chief operating officer Mel Karmazin unexpectedly resigned. MTV chief Tom Freston and CBS executive Leslie Moonves will share the company’s No. 2 post.

Medtronic Inc. and Genzyme Corp. have formed a joint venture to develop new drugs for heart disease, including treatments to repair damaged heart tissue. Medtronic climbed 95 cents to $48.85, while Genzyme was down 11 cents at $43.74.